BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- Sophomore guard Cassandra Stapelfeld (Brookline, N.H.) and senior guard Francesca Corsinetti (Johnston, R.I.) became the first teammates in school history to score 30 or more points each in a game in leading the Simmons University women's basketball team to a 102-44 victory over host Medgar Evers College this afternoon in the consolation game of the 20th Annual Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial Tournament at Cougars Cave in Brooklyn, N.Y. The point total broke a school record, eclipsing the former mark set when the Sharks defeated Becker College, 101-38, on November 23, 2002. Simmons improves to 1-5 on the season, while the Cougars fall to 0-6.
Stapelfeld established a new school standard for points in a game by a sophomore with 35 and broke the program mark with seven made three-pointers in a game for the Sharks. She finished the contest making seven of 10 trifectas from the floor and added nine rebounds, six assists, three steals and a pair of blocks. She averaged 30.5 points per game for the tournament to go with 12 made three-pointers, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game and was named to the All-Tournament Team. Corsinetti joined Stapelfeld with a record-breaking effort from beyond the arc with seven treys in 12 attempts and was 10-15 from the field on all shots as part of a career-high 31 points, while adding four rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes off the bench. Senior guard Rebekah Carroll (Londonderry, N.H.) recorded her first collegiate double-double with 13 points and matched the school record with 11 assists to equal Mary Dumont's effort vs. Massachusetts Institute of Technology on December 8, 1993. In addition Carroll grabbed seven rebounds and made a game-high five steals.
Simmons hit 15 three-pointers to set the school record and shot 53.6% (15-28) from three-point range for the game, while dominating the glass with a 57-31 rebounding advantage, including 24 offensive caroms and also held Medgar Evers to just 27.8% (15-54), including 18.5% (5-27) in the second half. The Sharks scored 30-plus points in each of the first two quarters and owned a 63-26 lead at halftime, while shooting a white hot 9-11 from three-point territory for the half.
Junior forward Cyndi Whyte (Brooklyn, N.Y.) led the Cougars with 13 points and pulled down three rebounds, while sophomore guard Destiny Simmons (Brooklyn, N.Y.) contributed with 11 points, two rebounds and three assists.
The Sharks raced out to a 25-5 lead with 2:39 to play in the opening quarter, fueled by 13 points on 5-7 shooting from Stapelfeld, who finished the half with 25 points. Simmons owned a 32-18 advantage after one quarter of play. Corsinetti drained a three-pointer to cap a 16-5 run to open the second quarter and give the Sharks a 48-19 cushion with 5:31 remaining in the half. Carroll converted two of three free throws, after being fouled on a three-point attempt with no time left in the first half to give Simmons a 63-26 halftime margin.
The Sharks continued to control the contest in the third period with a 19-3 stretch to open the quarter, paced by eight points from Corsinetti, to give Simmons an 82-29 lead with 4:53 showing on the clock. The Sharks took an 85-33 difference into the final period of play. Simmons received eight points from Stapelfeld and six on a pair of threes from Corsinetti as part of a 14-5 burst to open the fourth quarter and give the Sharks their largest lead of the day and the season at 99-38 with 5:01 remaining in the game. Medgar Evers scored six of the game's final nine points, but Simmons owned the day with the 58-point victory.
The Sharks return to action on Wednesday, November 28 when they host Clark University at Moore Gymnasium for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off, while the Cougars host Hunter College on November 30 at 6:00 p.m.